Phil Roberts joins Truett-McConnell faculty

CLEVELAND, Ga. (BP) -- Truett-McConnell College is adding to its faculty Phil Roberts, former president of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Roberts led Midwestern, a Southern Baptist seminary in Kansas City, Mo., from 2001-12. He will teach in Truett-McConnell's new master of arts in theology program beginning this fall.

Brad Reynolds, TMC's vice president for academic services, said Roberts and another new faculty member, Mael Disseau, "not only bring with them a vast knowledge base combined with international experience in education, they are committed churchmen whose lives of service to God will enhance their impact upon our students both academically and spiritually."

Truett-McConnell College, located in Cleveland, Ga., is affiliated with the Georgia Baptist Convention.

Roberts, who holds a Ph.D. from the Free University in Amsterdam, served seven years at the SBC's North American Mission Board in Alpharetta, Ga. He was vice president of the strategic cities strategies group and, earlier, director of the interfaith evangelism team, authoring the 1998 book "Mormonism Unmasked." Roberts also has been on the faculty of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C., and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., where he earned an M.Div. degree.

Among various places of overseas ministry from 1985-94, Roberts was pastor of the International Baptist Church in Brussels, Belgium.

"Dr. Roberts has a heart for education, missions and evangelism that knows no borders," said Emir Caner, president of Truett-McConnell. "Faculty and students alike will benefit from Dr. Roberts' commitment to and compassion for the mission and ministry of our college."

In addition to his duties at Truett-McConnell, Roberts will remain as director of international theological education for Global Ministries Fellowship, a Memphis-based organization that ministers internationally through crusade evangelism, theological education, and educational and spiritual ministries to children in India, Africa, Central America and Thailand.

Disseau, who will teach in the M.A. theology program as well as the undergraduate level, previously was an adjunct professor at The College at Southwestern, the undergraduate arm of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. He holds a Ph.D. in systematic theology from Southwestern, with a minor in Baptist and free church studies, having written his dissertation on the Anabaptist view of baptism and the Lord's Supper, and another Ph.D. in aerospace engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology.

Based on reporting by Norm Miller, director of communications at Truett-McConnell College in Cleveland, Ga.